AN: I hope you are having a good holiday season. Thanks for reading and have a good day.

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Away from the blood, away from the flames, her scavengers found a peaceful place. They were good at that, finding things people sought after. This time it was land, to set their dead to rest. Not Plutt, he'd been left to rot with the remains of Niima Outpost.

Rey stood with her scavengers after the last body had been carefully wrapped and placed them on a makeshift pyre, Alec among them. Rey looked down at her hands, his blood still stained her wrappings. She could still feel his weight in her arms, looking up quickly blinking back the tears she saw how they all looked to her.

Taking a steadying breath she stepped towards the pyre before them all, feeling the heat wafting from the flames. "We're here to thank the fallen for their sacrifice. Without them, we wouldn't be free." She called out before turning around and staring at those left. "You are what's left," She said sadly beginning to walk through the small crowd. "Now you don't just carry the weight of your dreams but theirs as well!" She called out pointing back at the pyre behind her. Dropping her arm after a moment she stopped in her tracks looking around at those closest to her. "They died for a free Jakku. You fought for a free Jakku. Remember that!" She called out demanding the attention of those around her. "Mourn them for a time. Remember them forever. And do right by them, by making their dream come true." Those closest could see the tears creep out of her eyes staining her face.

All she wanted to do was run. Run so none could see her tears, so she wouldn't have to see them turn to her like she had all the answers when she has none. But how could she run? No longer was she a simple scavenger, now she was a leader.

'What would Leia do?' She thought to herself hoping that just invoking the idea of the General would give her some guidance. But none came, she could do nothing to calm the grief in those around her - in herself. She just had to go through it.

So she stood silently as she watched the flames eat away at the bodies of the fallen. Ignoring her tears she focused on the final steps in her mission: set up a council for the Crimson Dawn to work with, notify the resistance of her status and leave this planet. Three more steps then she could run. Just like her parents had, just like everyone else. The thought felt like ice in her veins, bowing her head she wared with the shame she felt. 'Just like them, just as heartless...' came the unbidden cruel thought.

It was a clap on her shoulder as a scavenger passed her leaving the funeral that jarred her from her internal war. Raising her head she saw that she stood amongst the survivors of Jakku. Those who just like she had been discarded, forgotten on this forsaken wasteland of a planet. For whatever reason, she'd been left on Jakku. More tears silently flowed down her face as she recalled her young voice screaming for them to come back. A part of her knew that sound would forever haunt her in her darkest moments, the desperation, the fear, the hurt it was absolute it would never leave her. Watching a young boy leak silent tears of his own beside her reminded her that each of those here had a similar story. The galaxy would expect them to rot away here, but instead, they had defied the odds. Freeing themselves they were making something of this planet. Would it be like the core planets? Never. But it would be a haven to those who don't want to be found, to those left behind rather than the meat grinder it had been before.

Gently she placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and when his tear-filled eyes met her own she gave him a gentle squeeze and nodded. He watched her for a moment before he nodded and turned back to face the pyre clumsily wiping the tears from his face as he moved forward and was lost in the crowd. Watching him till he disappeared Rey wiped her own tears. For whatever reason, her parents had left her here. If it was out of love then she would understand and thank them, if it was due to selfishness then she'd forgive them. Regardless Rey was going to leave Jakku better than she found it. And that had to be enough.

Rey was the last to stay standing as the cold unforgiving night came. Watching the fire slowly die she felt that same young boy approach her, "Everyone's gone" he said in a raspy voice that spoke of pain and thirst. After a long moment of no response, he continued. "Are you heading back soon?"

Gently she shook her head answering before he pressed further. "I'll leave when it's done, they don't deserve to be left behind a second time." She expected him to leave her then.

But instead, he moved forward and plopped down to sit beside her. "Neither do you."

Rey looked down and gave a soft smile thankful for his kindness he returned with a small smile of his own before looking back to the dying flames. Looking back to the flames she could feel the hope that Jakku would be better.

"Without us, all you sand rats die. Take the offer." Came the booming command from the Crimson Dawn contact a gruff and unpleasant humanoid and not at all the one Rey had handled before. To say Rey was annoyed was an understatement and having to stay silent was not helping her mood. She was not going to be leading Jakku, she was going to leave. This council had to work or else it was all for nothing. She stood silently in the meager tent they had made for this meeting, focusing on her breathing the wind even the glaring heat from the sun helped but she was still annoyed.

While the meeting dragged on, they had gotten to some agreements but this last one was paramount.

"We could still destroy all of your little lives. Be thankful for what you get, trash." The gangsters howled with laughter at that. Looking at the two groups no one could disagree that there was a large power difference between them. And yet Jakku couldn't give in yet.

The elder woman on the Jakku council was well known, having lived and survived on Jakku for so long and running the pleasure house while Rey didn't know her name she had been selected and at least seemed at home at the negotiation table. "You're right of course, without outside support we'd die."

Rey forced her face to stay stoic when all she wanted to do was scream at her. She wasn't a politician but even she knew negotiations or fighting from a weakened position was not a winning strategy. Now she found herself questioning the wisdom on this five-person council.

The gangsters agreed, laughing. "Finally!" Boomed the lead one "Took you lot long enough to get the sand out yer eyes and see some sense." He leaned back fanning himself from the heat.

The elder woman smiled and leaned back as well " But we could go to the Pykes" She shrugged "Their offer wasn't too bad." She said nonchalantly barely registering the shock on her adversaries' face. "My workers have ears too and even they have heard about how weak the Crimson Dawn has become."

Ignoring the growls across the table another council member spoke: "They offered us twice the rations you are, but maybe that's all you can offer." The young man leaned forward glaring down each Crimson Dawn member.

Beside him, an older man sighed "We would prefer to work with the Crimson Dawn." He laid a hand on the younger man's shoulder "We need you, you need us. And we are grateful for your organization's assistance in our little uprising." Casually he slid a datapad across the table. "We'll accept that many rations and Unkars old trade route. In return, the Crimson Dawn will have exclusive rights to the scrap and hiding spots found by Nima Outpost."

For a long moment, Rey could only hear the wind and their breathing. This was a gamble, as she could easily see the council was bluffing. There was no Pyke contact.

Finally, the gruff man huffed and nodded. "That and a few slaves-"

"No slaves." Came the sudden intrusion from the elder man on the council, none knew about his past. But it was assumed by most of the outpost that he was a soldier of some kind, from some war and no one was sure what side. Now it hardly mattered he was of Jakku and on the council. "We agreed to that before the first shot was fired. Don't tell me the Crimson Dawn goes back on a deal now."

The youngest council member, a young Twilek female, spoke up "it's a good deal. We want to work with you, please work with us?" Her voice was soft and sweet.

Rey watched in awe of the exchange. One would never know that the council had been formed only yesterday or that they only had hours to prepare. When the Crimson Dawn gangsters agreed and they continued sorting out the details Rey relaxed. 'This could work' she thought to herself. Looking around for a moment she hoped her dark partner would appear to share in this moment with her. Of course, he wasn't there but it shocked her all the same that the first person she wanted to show Jakku's triumph to was Ben.

Listening to his Supreme Council Kylo Ren looked imposing, stoic features almost statue-like. He refused to sit during these meetings preferring to stand and at times walk around the room. For now, he kept his hands firmly clasped at his back while General Hux finally finished his proposal.

"The Resistance was dealt a heavy blow on Craite, but they have not been snuffed out and they continue to disrupt our operations." The red-haired man snarled "We should find these vermin and destroy them once and for all." Finishing with a prideful tilt of his head, clearly assuming for approval for his plan to focus all attention on destroying the Resistance.

Wisely, the council waited for the Supreme Leader to speak. Keeping his dark eyes on the red-head fanatic Kylo spoke "General Parnadee." He waited till he heard a quick "Yes Sir" before continuing. "How many systems are under our control since the Hosnian Cataclysm?"

Promptly the General nodded "Most of the New Republic systems have joined us. The Pyria system will soon be under our control once we take the Nomaddi Corridor." She responded quickly

Slowly, methodically Kylo began to move around the table "General Quinn." He waited until the man's head swiveled to his direction. "How fares the campaign to capture Nomaddi?" He asked keeping his voice cold, while he kept his gaze on Hux.

"Satisfactory Supreme Leader, the planet will be ours in the next few cycles." The older man said with assurance, proud no doubt of how his campaign was shaping up to a success.

Once Kylo was close enough - only an arm's length away - to General Hux. "General Hux, why is the Nomaddi Corridor important?" He asked keeping the same cold tone of voice, betraying no emotion.

To most, it would appear that the redhead had swallowed a disagreeable bug as he responded. "The trade route is a vital source of supplies and income to the core worlds."

"And to the Resistance." Kylo finished for the petulant General. "General Quinn has overseen a campaign which will not only damage the Resistance but improve our reach across the systems." He turned briefly and nodded to the older man, who was absolutely preening under the compliment. "While you propose for us to focus all our attention on blowing up a small band of rebels." Slowly his gaze returned to Hux "Such a waste."

The General took the bait and leaped from his seat "Sir, they must be destroyed! They will continue to undermine our efforts otherwise." Raising his voice, clearly showing the desperation of a rabid cur that Snoke had called him not too long ago.

In the same measured steps, Kylo continued walking past Hux as he returned to his previous position at the head of the table. "Your enthusiasm is noted" he spoke keeping a cool tone. "They will be destroyed." He continued as Hux smirked and returned to his seat so self-assured that approval was just around the corner. "But not at the expense of our greater ambitions." Kylo continued watching as the redhead deflated. "The Resistance is a speck in our eye. We have a galaxy to bring order to." Dark eyes watched as the other members of the council nodded along.

Turning his focus and bringing his hands to rest at his side he looked to another member "Admiral Griss, I believe you have a proposal regarding Kijimi." Just like that Hux's proposal was dismissed.

While Kylo listened to the Admiral's plans he couldn't help but notice Hux's thoughts. 'Bastard probably doesn't think we can find them.' Counting the numbers suggested by Admiral Griss was a welcome distraction from lashing out at the fanatic general. 'I'll find them and burn them all' Hux seemed to finally calm as fantasies of Dameron's public execution played through his mind.

Kylo listened and watched at his council discussed the new proposal. But his thoughts were another matter. He had been zealous in his pursuit of the resistance in the past, why now did it seem to quell? The easy answer was that he'd been ordered to do it, and now he had more important tasks. But then why not send Hux after them, give him the task. But that thought worried him, what if the Resistance was found. None would give them a chance to surrender, they'd probably blast them from orbit. 'What if Rey was with them?' Flashes of that dreadful day came to mind when a First Order attack had nearly taken her from him.

That fear nearly overcame him, demanding him to act. He turned his focus to that strange thread that connected him to her. He calmed as he felt it there, for if it was then she was alive. Alive on Jakku, where he is certain she had Force choked the Crolute that ran the planet. Where now she was probably talking with the Crimson Dawn, and the fear was back.

While his council continued their discussion he focused on that thread trying to glean a sense of her. A flash of annoyance came to him, and he almost mistook it as his own but it was paired with fear and helplessness. Worry bloomed in his chest he longed to reach out and show her how strong she was, that she had nothing to fear. Until shock and admiration came crashing through, leaving hope to sit pleasant and all-consuming.

Knowing she was safe, that her plans were coming to fruition gave him peace. Deciding to examine his reactions another time he returned his focus to his council, and his mission to bring order to the galaxy.